People v. Kelley

Defendant was convicted, after jury trial, of first-degree murder and sentenced to 35 years. State’s apparent purpose in questioning witnesses was to answer doubts raised by cross-examination in eliciting testimony from its experts that Defendant could have requested evidence to be tested. State’s remarks in rebuttal closing were not error; State was reminding jury that case was not a referendum on propriety of victim’s life but trial on question of who murdered the victim. State made a few solitary remarks about defense counsel’s motives, and did not create theme of disparaging defense counsel. (REYES and PALMER, concurring.)